Spec owners please help!!

[spartin718]

Hi I am having a hard time keeping the filter clean in my spec 16 gallon. Specifically in the first chamber at the bottom. I vacuum in there but every time I do a water change the detris at the bottom chamber gets pushed back into the main display tank when refilling it. So my question is has anyone completely sealed off the bottom grate and how is that working for you?

Thanks so much in advance

 

[TheWolfman]

I don't have that tank but I do own a similar tank with a built in filter that I modified. I used aqua clear spounges cut to size to fill the bottom intake and the top overflow replaceing the cartridge filter all together. I also refill inside the aquarium not the filter.